Research Paper
Topic- JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
Sumbitted by- Deepanshu Verma
Abstract
Juvenile delinquency is a serious offence, and there is a global trend of increased juvenile
crime, with more and more youth participation in violent crimes. Similar trends of rising rates
of violent crimes committed by juveniles can be found in India. In response to these trends,
the Indian legal system and judiciary have made some changes to the laws governing juvenile
justice in India. The purpose of this paper is to examine the causes of juvenile delinquency
and the explanations provided by scholars from various fields to explain the problem. To
address the issue of juvenile delinquency in India, the law pertaining to Juvenile Delinquency
has been amended, and juveniles involved in heinous crimes are tried as adults.
Keywords
Delinquency; Juvenile Justice System; Juvenile Justice Act; Juvenile Justice Board
1. Introduction
Children are the foundation upon which any country's future is erected. They become the
country's leaders, the creators of national wealth who care for and protect the human
community of the land in which they live. These children develop at different rates and have
different worldviews around the world. They improve their abstract thinking skills and form
their own opinions on social and political issues. They acquire the ability to engage in long-
term planning and goal setting. There is also a tendency to compare oneself to others. They
yearn for a distinct identity and independence from their parents. This is the age when peer
influence and acceptance are extremely important. They also have strong romantic and sexual
ideas.1
In every country, juvenile crimes are a serious concern because they are now such a
widespread phenomenon. In layman's terms, a juvenile is a child who has not reached the age
at which he or she can think rationally and frequently understand the consequences of his or
her actions. As a result, the juvenile cannot be held liable for his or her criminal acts. A
juvenile delinquent is a child who has allegedly committed/violated some law, such that
his/her act of commission or omission becomes an offence.
A juvenile is defined as a person under the age of 16 in Section 2 (k) of the Juvenile Justice
(Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (referred to collectively as the JJ Act). Prior to
the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act of 2015, the age limit for juveniles
was 18 years (Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, 2006, 2012). In
fact, the age of the juvenile under Indian laws varies in both temporal and spatial
perspectives. It varies from 14 to 18 years depending on the law and Indian state.2
2. Reasons for Juvenile Crimes
1
https://www.iresearchnet.com/research-paper-examples/crime-research-paper/juvenile-delinquency-research-
paper/
2
https://blog.ipleaders.in/introduction-overview-juvenile-justice-care-protection-act-2015/
#Juvenile_Justice_Care_and_Protection_Act_2015
According to interdisciplinary research on juvenile delinquency, many behavioural changes
in children and adolescents around the world are caused by the puberty-related hormonal
surge, which causes sudden changes in their bodies. The changes are most visible in physical
parameters, such as height and weight changes in adolescents, and are quickly followed by
other sexual and physical changes of maturity. These physical changes are accompanied by
mental changes.3
2.1. Voilence in their Social Circles
If a child lives in a violent neighbourhood, he or she is more likely to engage in delinquent
behaviour.
Since the child gets into trouble to avoid local gang members or other violent individuals,
many people refer to this as a form of street survival. In many cases, removing the child from
this type of situation reduces their proclivity for delinquent behavior.
2.2. Peer Pressure
Peer pressure from direct acquaintances, like neighbourhood pressures, can influence how a
child reacts to negative situations. If all of their peers are engaging in delinquent behaviour,
the child may feel pressured to follow suit in order to be accepted.
The best way to avoid this type of situation is to be actively involved in who your child hangs
out with on a regular basis. Know who their friends are. Parents who know their friends. This
not only gives your child the confidence to do the right thing, but it can also help parents
keep their children away from negative influences.
2.3. Socio-economic Factors
Juvenile delinquency is more prevalent in poorer communities. While delinquent behaviour
does not occur in all neighbourhoods, it is believed that it occurs more frequently in areas
where children believe they must commit crimes in order to succeed.
Theft and similar crimes may be the result of necessity rather than a petty crime. The only
true solution to this problem is to ensure that children in these areas have access to what they
require and understand that they do not need to commit a crime in order to succeed in life.
2.4. Lack of Moral Guidance
In order to prevent delinquency, parental or adult influence is the most crucial factor. When a
parent or other adult interacts with the child and demonstrates what is acceptable and
unacceptable behaviour, the child is more likely to act in a non-delinquent manner.
It is critical for a child to form a bond with a positive adult who can influence their actions
and teach them the difference between what is right and wrong.4
3. Important Provisions related to Indian Juvenile Justice Act
3
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322918203_JUVENILE_DELINQUENCY_IN_INDIA-
_LATEST_TRENDS_AND_ENTAILING_AMENDMENTS_IN_JUVENILE_JUSTICE_ACT
4
https://baysingerlaw.com/2018/03/factors-contributing-juvenile-delinquency/
Section 2 (I) of the Juvenile Justice Act of 2000 defines a juvenile in conflict with the law as
a juvenile who is alleged to have committed an offence and is under the age of 18 (but over
the age of ten) on the date of the crime.
There is no agreement on the definition of child in various Indian laws, which causes
confusion and dilemma in the legal treatment of children. Another group of kids is referred to
as "Children in Need for Care and Protection" under section 2 (d) of the same Act. These
children are those who are found without a home, settled place, or abode, as well as no
apparent means of subsistence.
Juvenile offenders are treated by the Juvenile Justice Board, while vulnerable children are
treated by the CWC5. The Juvenile Justice Board is made up of a metropolitan judge or
judicial magistrate of first class and two social workers, at least one of whom must be a
woman.
Every police station must have a Special Juvenile Police Unit, according to the Act. If the
juvenile is co-accused with an adult/adults, the juvenile offender cannot be tried alongside
adult criminals. In addition, the Juvenile Justice Act in India restricts the detention of minors
and establishes the right to bail for the offender, whether or not the offence is bailable.
Furthermore, juvenile offenders' trials are held in a very informal setting, with the offender
not being able to be brought to the Juvenile Justice Board handcuffed. The police officers and
other government employees are dressed casually.
The identity of the offender is always concealed, and the name of the offender may never be
mentioned in newspapers or on news channels. Following the trial, the offenders are placed in
observation homes or special homes. Children in need of care and protection are placed in
children's homes.
All of the child-friendly measures taken by the Indian government show that the government
does not want to jeopardise the lives of young criminals and instead wants to give them all a
chance to improve. All of the provisions are consistent with juvenile law.6
Conclusion
In Conclusion, delinquency is growing at a quick fee within side the society and prevention is
crucial that allows you to scale back the upward thrust of crimes devoted via way of means of
kids. It is crucial to observe that the attitudes and conduct of the kids in large part rely on the
environment that a baby is born and taken up to. So as a network it in large part relies upon
on us the way to assist the kids and inculcate the nice attitudes of their day by day lives. The
gift look at famous a number of the foremost reasons of minor crimes together with peer
pressure, social familial elements as family, addiction, poverty, Influence of social Media,
and so forth and the way as a network we are able to save you those crimes. The look at
additionally famous that mother and father want higher know-how in handling their kids and
Teachers, Police and schooling additionally performs a main function in stopping crimes and
5
Child Welfare Committee
6
https://blog.ipleaders.in/all-about-juvenile-justice-act/
there's a want to enhance the network and establishments that allows you to assist in
curtailing the upward thrust of crimes withinside the society. Lastly, It is crucial that as
counsellors, mother and father, instructors and others to create recognition approximately the
ethical schooling and behavioural amendment among the young people as they're the destiny
representatives of the country.
References
Akers, Ronald L. 1990. “Rational Choice, Deterrence, and Social Learning Theory in
Criminology: The Path Not Taken.” Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology
81:653–76.
Bartollas, Clemens. 2006. Juvenile Delinquency. 7th ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Battin-Pearson, Sara R., Terence P. Thornberry, J. David Hawkins, and Marvin D.
Krohn. 1998. “Gang Membership, Delinquent Peers, and Delinquent Behavior.”
Juvenile Justice Bulletin, October.
Becker, Howard S. 1963. New York: Free Press.
https://blog.ipleaders.in/juvenile-delinquency-social-problem/#Conclusion
